Riding high above the Thames to the Olympics

A view from a cable car as London Mayor Boris Johnson takes one of the first rides on the Emirates Air Line cable car across the River Thames prior to its official opening to the public this morning on June 28 in London, England.

Stefan Rousseau / WPA Pool via Getty Images

London Mayor Boris Johnson takes one of the first rides on the Emirates Air Line cable car across the River Thames prior to its official opening to the public this morning on June 28 in London, England.

The Emirates Air Line, a £44 million cable car system spanning the Thames in London, was officially launched by London mayor Boris Johnson. Ahead of the public opening, Mr Johnson rode one of the cable cars which will whisk passengers almost 300ft above the river between Greenwich by the 02 Arena in south London and the Royal Docks by the ExCel exhibition center to the north. Each car provides 360-degree views taking in the City, Canary Wharf, historic Greenwich, the Thames Barrier and the Olympic Park.

Back-dropped by the O2, a Transport for London's gondola lift cable car is seen across the River Thames, in London, on June 28. The cable car will make the half-mile crossing between Greenwich and the Royal Docks, allowing visitors to take in the views of Olympic Park, the Canary Wharf financial center and the Thames Barrier. Each of the 34 cars holds 10 people and looks like the gondolas that ferry skiers up the mountains in the Swiss Alps. Travelers can go one way or round-trip, with a one-way ticket costing 3.20 pounds (5 US dollars).